Husband Col. Strong Vincent 1 2
Born: 17 Jun 1837 - Waterford, Erie Co, PA 1 2
Christened:
Died: 7 Jul 1863 - Gettysburg, Adams Co, PA 3
Buried:
Father: Bethuel Boyd Vincent (1803-1876) 4 5 6
Mother: Sarah Ann Strong (1812-Aft 1895) 2 7 8
Marriage:
Wife Elizabeth H. Carter 9
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
General Notes: Husband - Col. Strong Vincent
In 1843, his parents removed to the city of Erie, Pennsylvania. His school days were passed chiefly at the old Erie Academy. Here he formed many boyish friendships, which, notwithstanding his long absences afterward from his native town, were warmly cherished by him as long as he lived. When he was about fourteen years old, he thought that he had had schooling enough. But his father would have no one idle about him, so the boy was put to work in his father's iron foundry. For six months he worked as a day laborer. He was then taken into the office of the concern, and given partial oversight of the books and of the hands in the foundry. After being thus occupied for a year and more, he thought that he would become a more successful iron-founder if he had a scientific education. With this idea, he left home and entered the scientific school at Hartford, Connecticut. He soon began to desire a full collegiate education, and shortly entered Trinity College. But he was not yet content. The reputation of Harvard College had a great charm for him, and he finally persuaded his father to allow him to enter it, which he did as a sophomore in the class of 1859. A college friend, afterward an intimate army friend (Maj. W. W. Swan) thus speaks in the "Harvard Memorial Biographies" of his college career: "Vincent was a man of mark in his class, and in the college. His personal appearance was in his favor. There was not a student from sophomore to senior who did not on first seeing him seek to learn who he was. Physically he seemed fully developed. Of rather above medium height, he had a well-formed, powerful frame, and his face was remarkably striking and handsome. He looked many years older than he really was, and in every respect his mind corresponded with his body. One would have said on hearing him converse that he was twenty-five years old. He was not a hard student. And yet when the class of 1859 graduated, if the professors had been asked to name those whom the college would afterward delight to count among her children, Vincent would have been high on the list."
While in Harvard, he determined to follow a professional life, and much of his reading at this time was with this view. Graduating in 1859, he immediately returned to Erie, and began the study of law in the office of William S. Lane, Esq. In fifteen months he had been creditably admitted to the bar, and become Mr. Lane's partner; was taking an active interest in the public affairs of the city and county, and stood high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens. He took special interest in the political campaign of 1860, in favor of Mr. Lincoln.
He had been for some time a member of the local militia company, "The Wayne Guards." In 1861, on the day After the President's first call for volunteers, he enlisted as a private with his company in the "Erie Regiment" of three-months men. As his Harvard biographer says: "His motive was pure patriotism. The dreams that every boy has of a soldier's life, of course, came back to him; but at his age, he could count the cost of military honors. Other honors such as had for him a still higher value, he was sure to obtain in paths of peace. * * * At the bar and in the Senate, he would have sought his laurels. * * * Manhood and patriotism made him a soldier." He was at once married to a lady to whom he had been some time engaged-Miss Elizabeth H. Carter, of Newark, New Jersey.
He had been elected the 2d Lieut. of his Company (A) before the regiment left Erie. He was soon afterward appointed the Adjutant of his regiment. On arrival at Pittsburgh, where several regiments of these three-months men were stationed, Col. McLane of the Erie regiment became Post Commander, and Vincent Post Adjutant. It was in his efficient discharge of the duties of this position that his soldierly qualities first began to attract attention.
On return to Erie, and in mustering out of the three-months men, he at once re-enlisted in the 83d Reg. P. V. for three years; was again appointed Acting Adjutant during the formation of the new regiment, and was elected its Maj. before leaving Erie. On its arrival at Hall's Hill Camp near Washington, he was elected and commissioned its Lieut. Colonel. Just after leaving home, he wrote to his wife: "Surely the right will prevail. If I live, we will rejoice over our country's success. If I fall, remember that you have given your husband a sacrifice to the most righteous cause that ever widowed a woman."
On reaching Washington, the 83d Reg. was assigned to Butterfield's brig., of Maj. Gen. Fitz-John Porter's division, and during that fall and winter (1861-62) Vincent rendered frequent service as a Brig. Inspector. Before Yorktown he was incessantly in the saddle, in charge of working parties in the trenches. He made the siege a constant study, and knew the position and importance of every work and gun along our lines. His first battle was that of Hanover Court House. Shortly after this he was prostrated by the poisonous air of the Chickahominy Swamps, so that his life was despaired of. While in this condition, the terrible battle of Gaines' Mill took place, in which over one-half of his regiment were either killed or wounded. The Colonel and Major were both killed. The news was kept from him as long as possible. But the preparations for the retreat of our army revealed the truth. Sick as he was, he realized the desperate loss to the regiment in the death of its gallant commander, McLane. He forced his attendants to let him go, and mounting his horse led his regiment until he fell helpless from the saddle. Carried for a long distance on the back of his faithful servant, John Hickey, he knew nothing more until he found himself on board a sick-transport on the James River. He was met by his wife and father in New York, and taken home, where he remained until Oct. 1, when he returned to his regiment. During his absence he had been chosen and commissioned its Colonel.
In December, his brigade took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. Here he gained the enthusiastic and lasting confidence of his men and fellow-officers. Lying on their faces a whole day under the fire of the enemy so near that it was death to rise from the ground, he cheered them by his own example of personal bravery; and the command of the brigade falling temporarily to him, he proved his generalship when ordered to fall back, by rescuing his troops from their perilous position under the momentary cover of a passing cloud on a full moonlit night.
Socially, he was an unusually attractive man, and his quarters at Acquia Creek during the following winter were always a popular resort. Maj. Swan's article says of him: "As a general thing, his companions were older than himself; for though Vincent was but twenty-five years old, his decisive countenance and confident address made him seem the compeer of men of forty. Among his associates were officers of the highest rank. He could adapt himself to all; could talk with the politicians on questions of history, with a general officer on military evolutions, or with a sporting man on the merits of horses, and all respected his opinion. An extract from one of his letters about this time will show his decided opinions. "It reminds us," says his Harvard biographer, "of Gen. Grant's instructions to Gen. Sheridan far later in the war: 'We must fight them more vindictively. We must desolate the country as we pass through it, and not leave the trace of a doubtful friend or foe behind us; make them believe that we are in earnest, terribly in earnest; that to break this land in twain is monstrous and impossible; that the life of every man, woman and child in the entire South is of no value whatever, compared with the integrity of the Union.' "
For several weeks Vincent was President of a Court Martial, and later was offered the position of Judge Advocate General of the Army of the Potomac. This he declined. "I enlisted to fight," he said laughingly, when urged to take the staff position.
In April, 1863, he was regularly appointed as ranking Colonel, to the command of the brigade. Shortly after this, he rendered signal service with it, in support of Gen. Pleasanton's cavalry at the battle of Aldie. He there received the special thanks and commendations of the Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Meade. From Aldie his brigade marched to Gettysburg. Crossing the Pennsylvania line his excitement became intense. "As we rode slowly through the town (Hanover) Vincent had the torn colors of the old 83d unrolled, and brought to the front of the brigade. As they rustled in the moonlight before him, he reverently bared his head, and said to one of his staff in tones that will never be forgotten: "What death more glorious can any man desire, than to die on the soil of old Pennsylvania, fighting for that flag!" The battle of Gettysburg began on the 1st of July. The 5th Corps (Gen. Sykes), to which Vincent's command was attached, arrived with the main body of our army on the second. He realized and yet spoke hopefully of the terrible struggle now fairly begun. As his command lay quietly awaiting orders, he said: "To-day will either bring me my stars, or finish my career as a soldier." (Who would have thought it would do both?) On the afternoon of the second, orders arrived for a brigade of their division to move to the support of Gen. Sickles' Third Corps. Vincent (so says an eye-witness) in the absence of his superior officer, took the responsibility of taking his own brigade to the front, and posting them so as to hold "Little Round Top" Mountain. This was the real key, as it afterward appeared, to the position of our army in that day's fight, and the rebels strove desperately all that afternoon to take it, in order to turn our flank, and so drive us certainly from our position. This hill, since known as Vincent's Spur (and now marked by a marble slab erected by "Strong Vincent Post" G. A. R., of Erie), was held by this brigade, though at fearful loss. The disposition of these troops upon it was afterward cited in the class room at West Point as one of the most signal instances in the war of first-class military strategy by a volunteer officer. But it cost Vincent his life. While standing on a conspicuous rock, encouraging his troops, he was shot by a sharp-shooter, and died five days afterward. The appointment of Brigadier General was sent him the day after he was wounded, but it reached him too late. The gallant young soldier had sunk into his last sleep. He was buried at Erie with military honors.
A little girl was born to him three months after his death. She lived only a year and then was buried in the same grave with "The hero of Little Round Top."
General Notes: Wife - Elizabeth H. Carter
from Newark, NJ